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Merry-go-Round, 1946
This is me on the Small Merry-go-Round in the childrens area of Santa Cruz Boardwalk in about 1946
Sandra McGuire Artaz |
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Cat and Mouse Ride Steals Wig, 1974
As a young teenager my family and I would vacation in Santa Cruz every summer. I was in line to ride the old Cat and Mouse ride which stood approximately where the log ride is now. A family of five, three children with a mother and grandmother, were in line behind me. As the cars only held four people the mother asked if one of her boys could ride with me. I said of course and off we went. When we returned I decided to wait with the boy so he wouldn't wait alone.
When the mother, grandmother, and two children came back there was a problem. It seems grandma left the station with brown hair and came back with gray hair. As we stood there laughing hysterically a ride attendant walked up with a smug look and grandma's wig.
I have always enjoyed my time at the Boardwalk and consider Santa Cruz my home away from home.
Dave |
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Buccaneer Bay Mini Golf, 2007
This photo was taken at the newly refurbished Buccaneer Bay.
These were the first guests to experience our new "Under Water Sea Adventure."
Bob Ash, Buccaneer Bay Attendant February 31, 2007 |
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Every Day at the Boardwalk
I was born in Santa Cruz and spent most of my childhood there. At one point in my life we lived only two blocks up the hill from the beach and Boardwalk. We spent everyday after school hanging around with friends at the Boardwalk and most every summer day. We did everything we could to earn or beg money from our parents to buy tickets for the rides. I remember rides such as 'The Wild Mouse', 'The Jet Star' and 'The Black Widow' which I got sick on once.
We came to know a lot of the workers and management, and once, after closing, they let us walk through the Haunted House ride and collect all the brass rings that people had pocketed and used to throw and try to hit the ghosts and such. We would have every finger full and would turn them into the office in exchange for some free tickets.
Honestly though, my favorite part of any given day was drinking lemonaide and finding a cool spot to watch all the people play all the tossing games,to ride the carousel and make a ring into the clowns mouth, and to get a few pieces of the best salt water taffy on earth.
I loved that place so much and hope to bring my own kids there real soon.
Lorie R. |
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The Rings, 1979
The first time my parents took me and my sister to the Boardwalk I was 6 years old. I was so excited to go on the Carousel because I wanted to throw the metal rings at the clown's mouth. Unfortunately I was much too short to reach the ring dispenser so my Dad sat on the horse in front of me and would grab the rings and then reach back to hand them to me so I could play. I had so much fun on that trip and ever since then I have had a special place in my heart for Santa Cruz. Now I have kids and we come at least once or twice a year. I still get just as excited when I see the Boardwalk as I did back then. Happy Birthday!!!
Cari A. |
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Best Summers of my Life, 1960s
We came to the Boardwalk every summer when I was a kid in the late sixties. My sister and brother, teenagers at the time, were 7-10 years older than I. We stayed in little places a block off the beach with names like The Poppy Court and The Blue Bell, slept on pull-out beds, and ate peanut and jelly sandwiches for lunch.
I remember standing up in the bathroom of one of these motels, balancing on the edge of the bathtub, looking out the window at the flags atop the Giant Dipper. I loved the beach and the town but mostly I loved the Boardwalk. The Funhouse and the Walking Charlies and the gas powered cars and the WIld Mouse were still in operation back then.
I remember watching my brother and sister riding the Wild Mouse (I was too young back then) and I especially remember as they came, screaming, around that curve that came out over the Boardwalk. I can still remember the smell of the Boardwalk, the grease on the tracks and the electricity and the fog and the cotton candy.
I visit the boardwalk at least two or three times every summer and when I do all my worries melt away and I'm a ten year old boy again watching my brother and sister whip, screaming their heads off, on that curve on the old Wild Mouse.
Johnny |
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A Priate's Paradise, 2006
The Boardwalk was the perfect destination for our 'lil pirate to be a pirate. This photo was taken in Neptune's Kingdom. The atmosphere is truly magical!
Holly Ortiz |
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Long Ago, 1965
Our family of 9 children would go to Santa Cruz just about every weekend. I have such good memory of our time at the beach. We would bbq and play in the sand by day and late afternoon it was time to ride the rides. The Wild Mouse alway scared me and we always wanted to see the Sea Monster come up. (Why? I have no clue.)
Happy 100 years! Now i live in Oregon but when we visit family i now bring my children to ride the rides and visit the Boardwalk.
Penny |
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Nothing But Good Times, 1985
Of all our family weekend trips, Boardwalk memories are the most memorable. From trying to race my dad through Autorama, to just staring in amazement at the taffy machine. Jumping over the many waves that came crashing onto the sand, and of course the biting of the nails that came with waiting in line for The Giant Dipper. Keeping your eyes shut tight in The Haunted House, hoping that creepy guy in the mask wasn't waiting there to scare you towards the end. The smell of those freshly made waffle cones and the eagerness to try and get the most wet on the Log ride. This was and still is a place for children and adults both to indulge in some good ol' California fun and sun. Even as teenagers, us crazy kids thrived on the car ride through Highway 17. Once you hit downtown, you knew it was going to be an awesome day.
Now, at age 31 and two children of my own, there is nothing cooler than seeing the looks on their faces when I say the words Santa Cruz and Boardwalk in the same sentence, not to mention my mouth starting to water when I start to think of those strawberry funnel cakes. I will continue to make the memories great ones, even long after my grandkids have grown.
Angela Romero
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My First Job, 1945
My very first job was working in the Plunge when I was 12 years old. My job was to hand out towels to the swimmers and unlock dressing room doors for them. I got the job because my Grandmother Elizabeth Majors also worked there. I remember how thrilled I was when I received my first pay check. I really wanted to keep it forever and not cash it in, but then I wanted the money too! I was born and raised on the Coast Road and each summer, while I was small, my cousins came to town from Richmond, California,and we got to spend a day on the Boardwalk. I loved the Fun House.
This April I will be 74 and my memories are about a lot of fun there and the excitement of watching the Miss California Pagent.
Congratulations on a wonderful, fun filed 100 years!
Loretta Williams |
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